-=Chapter 7 – The timing of things=-
The hours of the night were now reserved for contemplation and definitely not rest. Naruto was certain of this now. There was nothing that could will him to sleep decently that night. This time, he was not even thinking about Hinata or Sakura – his thoughts were only of Sasuke. That handsome smile. His deep reassuring voice. His seductive eyes. The suggestive questions. The new secrets that were revealed. All of these elements swirled into the charismatic Sasuke that kept Naruto completely interested by his answers and confident demeanor.
Naruto realized that there was no denying it now. Not after what he said. He was falling for this more laid back and undefended version Sasuke. Nothing happened though. Sasuke had only smiled at him, which he almost never did, until a few days ago. He kept his composure and patience eventually won him an indulgent hug, on the park benches. It was incredibly warm and relaxing.
The car ride back was a silent one after Hidan's initial barrage of questions. Where did the dog come from? Did they meet any nice girls? Did they score any telephone numbers? Sasuke silenced Hidan with dango, a treat he also indulged in, which Naruto was thankful for as well. After that, they played games on their cellphones and compared high scores, nothing out of the usual for them. Naruto smiled enchantingly one last time as he said good night and closed the car door.
Each and every one of those moments replayed through Naruto's mind on repeat. Even his new frog companion could not reassure his doubts and hesitations. He stared at it, played with it, and left it on the pillow beside his head. It made him cry again but at the same time, also made him ridiculously happy. His eyes were closed and yet the darkness still eluded him.
There was something there – he could feel it. Something unsaid or intangible. Was it desire? The sexual undertones were starting to surface; the attraction was undeniably strong and pulled them together naturally. But it was so fast, even after they agreed not to rush things along. If they did become a couple, just learning how to act amongst their peers and successfully lie to their families would be incredibly hard challenges to face, right out of the starting gate. Naruto dithered confining certain things to Iruka but realized that he would never lie to either of his uncles if they started asking the right questions. He would have to tell them or straight out ask them for privacy in his romantic life. This could also be problematic to Sasuke. Naruto knew not to assume too much though but mentally reminded himself that this would be worth discussing, amid everything else that needed to be said, in the morning. There was Itachi to consider with Sasuke, if Naruto trusted Iruka as his confidante.
That was just the start. Their date was genuinely fun; he could not deny this fact. Naruto relished in Sasuke's light romantic touches all throughout the night. They made him feel warm and cared for. He had not expected his best friend to be so alluring and to charm him so easily and boldly but he did. It amused him because now he truly related to the many women he knew that fell hard for the usually stoic and blunt Uchiha prodigy. Sasuke's hardened mask was never present when he smiled at him though. He kept showing Naruto new parts of his personality that perhaps he had not realized even existed. That continued to astound Naruto profoundly. Knowing someone romantically was incredibly different from just being best friends. Was this who Sasuke really was, under the many layers of reservation? Sasuke was always silent and now Naruto was solely privileged to his personal opinions and private sentiments.
Was he wrong in thinking that this was all very sudden? Was he simply in denial? Sasuke was…definitely worth it. But it was still felt rushed somehow…
There was also the matter of Sakura that lingered at the back of his mind. He wanted to be honest with Sasuke and also demonstrate that he could be open about his emotions as well. However, his sentiments were virtually overwhelming, fueled by embarrassed blushing and blossoming hormones. His thoughts were constantly consumed with his rival and he did not want to hurt him ever. From earnest curiosity, to admiration, and now onto attraction, Naruto knew what he had to talk to Sasuke about.
Only one thing really stood in the way now…
At least, that's what he thought, before finally falling asleep.
Naruto had told him good night in that beautiful voice of his and yet Sasuke's night was spent tossing and turning under his sheets. It was just as arduously tiresome for him. He remembered clearly how wildly his heart was beating as he watched Naruto walk into his building, before they drove away. The image of Naruto glancing back and waving was etched into his memory all night. The erratic beating in his chest did not steady until he found his gift and attached it to one of the few rings on his keychain. There were only three keys and now it had a charm that he would treasure, even after the enamel chipped away from the steel.
That fan also reminded him of his lineage and the expectation thrust upon his shoulders. They weighed him down to a reality where his actions, he knew, would be completely forbidden by his father. He could vividly recall his father's temper and outrage towards Itachi's secret relationship. Yet, even that was not enough to deter him. Sasuke trusted in his decision and did not need his father's consent. A tiny piece of his heart would always belong to Naruto.
The Uchiha was proud of himself for overcoming his fears and developing into a strongminded and firm individual that trusted in his own abilities. He could answer almost any question Naruto asked and he was positive that there would be dozens more in the morning. They were certain to discuss the tournament and its upcoming reservations. He steadied his nerves but even clearing his mind could not help him to slumber any quicker. It was past three before fatigue smothered his thoughts into a few hours of rest.
Until then, however, he very closely thought about what exactly he wanted to express to Naruto. Sasuke wanted to thank his best friend for allowing him to open up and be true to himself. Even if Naruto had said no, he still felt like they could salvage their friendship and move past the attraction. Sasuke understood that loving someone who did not reciprocate could damage his heart permanently. Only a fool would date someone who was not genuinely interested in them. In the end, he felt like a coward in his relationship with Sakura, because he no longer wanted to be with her and yet remained for two months, regardless of knowing that he was leading her on.
However, Sasuke could now genuinely admit that he was falling in love with Naruto.
Honesty and secrecy intermingled, becoming the same, as they were honest with each other and lying to everyone else. He grasped that this was a sensitive situation, even to him. He did not want to overwhelm Naruto either. Instead, Sasuke realized that the only way Naruto could ever return his love would be to see how he truly felt, deep down inside. There were no more fake hostilities. Naruto, as his kendo rival, was not an outlet for his misdirected anger; he was his best friend.
This was his motivation…and it seemed to be working.
I should be able to say anything to him, he thought to himself, once again, in the middle of the night, unable to sleep.
Once he finally admitted to himself that he was attracted to Naruto, he had that same thought cross his mind.
Sasuke wanted to finally show Naruto the respect he deserved. As he told himself these things, it became easier to open up to the adorable blonde and still feel comfortable, admitting secrets to him and to himself. He truly enjoyed their conversations. They could peacefully sit through a moment of silence without it being awkward or uneasy together. All he really wanted was to hold his hand again.
Naruto brought out the best in him, just by being around. They spent almost every day training together. Sasuke found weekends strange, when he did not see or hear from Naruto. They often met online, playing various games until ridiculous hours in the morning. Or sent each other text messages. Sometimes, they even met with a larger group of friends and hit up the arcades for entertainment.
The Uchiha never really saw his rival as his equal until the end of the first tournament, when he lost to him. It was inevitable that they then began to spar together and eventually train regularly with one another and within the year, they called each other friends. The moment they did, Sasuke won the second tournament, and the rueful blonde told him that he was his best friend and very glad to call him that.
They were equal in all sense of the word.
Sasuke wanted his partner to be his equal as well.
And very slowly, he began to acknowledge how profound his feelings were. He was almost certain that this was love…
The qualifying round of the world championship tournament would finally determine which of the adversaries settled their rivalry. The last person to hold the title was Uchiha, Itachi. The weight was obvious on Sasuke's shoulders. Naruto came from a champion as well, his grandfather, who held the title successively, many moons ago, as the author often said jokingly.
The tournament always began early in the morning, along with a ceremony to celebrate the past heroes of the sport. The opening matches were a formality, in order to place the competitors in the eight different groupings. If one of them lost in their first match, then the odds of them being in the same group increased. That outcome was still a real possibility. No one wanted to see them match off immediately. So long as they both won, then they could not possibly meet until the main stage of the world championship, each as a victor for one of the top eight slots.
But what if they were paired in the same category?
If the odds were truly against them, they would inevitably meet in the ring that day and only one of them would move onto the next round of the tournament…
The Uchiha always arrived punctually and Uzumaki, Naruto was notoriously late. Sasuke was impressed though; he was only two minutes tardy today.
Naruto entered the gym, where he found Sasuke, in his full attire, sitting cross legged before his kendo stick.
''Good morning! Sleep well?''
''Not at all, if we're being honest.'' Sasuke deliberately chose his words to emphasize his attempt at opening up immediately; they both had heavy bags under their eyes, he could tell.
''Me either. I wasn't even with you and you kept me up.'' Naruto laughed; he usually tried to make an offhanded joke when he was tense.
''I could say the same to you.''
There was only a brief moment of hesitation and some awkward chuckles before Naruto decidedly took the lead. ''I guess we should just get right to it then.''
Sasuke matched Naruto's bold approach, by asking in turn, as if to guess, ''you're worried about fighting me before the final round, aren't you?''
Naruto simply stared and his mouth fell open in disbelief. ''Get out of my head. It's too early for psychics…but…you're right. I'm worried that we'll get stuck having to eliminate one another in the opening grouping. I would hate myself if that happened, either outcome.''
Sasuke sighed heavily, ''I understand your point of view. But will that affect the idea of us being in a relationship?''
''I don't really know. I've never been in a serious relationship before. I can't imagine myself being jealous of you, if you win, but I am afraid that it would somehow sour what we could be working on. And besides, the tournament is six months away…I also feel like we're skipping ahead here and maybe moving too fast…''
Although Naruto's worries were justifiable, Sasuke could clearly perceive that Naruto was fearful of resentment. He did not want Sasuke to hate him, if he won, and they broke up after, for instance. Or if they parted ways before the tournament, it could possibly color their feelings for one another and the respect in their bond of friendship. Naruto could not bear hurting his friends and he knew that breaking up with someone would be extremely difficult to do, when you still cared for that person. Sasuke had told him this after his rupture from Sakura.
''Naruto, I know what you're getting at. I want you to know though that I will never resent you for anything, if you decide to go through with us, and we then break up. I don't want you to feel like you can't talk to me. If it isn't working, you have to trust that I'm not blind and will see it too if we're not compatible. I'll know if your heart isn't in it. I can't force you to… have feelings for me. All I can tell you, if it reassures you in any way, is that I'm not going to let my feelings for you stop me from either beating you, or losing respectfully to you, in any given round of the tournament.''
Naruto took a moment to process Sasuke's elaborate answer.
Again, the blonde realized that Sasuke was reading deeper into his words, in order to comfort the hidden anxieties that existed beneath the surface and began to float into his consciousness. He felt slightly reassured but his doubts were ever present, lingering in the background of his thoughts.
''I can be your partner and your rival at the same time.'' Sasuke said and his brazen statement made his best friend flush a vibrant hue of bright red embarrassment.
''Sasuke, can you honestly tell me that you won't resent me, even a little, if I beat you? Are you really that prepared to lose, or win? How can you be so certain? I feel a little overwhelmed by how polished your answer sounds.''
The Uchiha already knew exactly what to say.
''I believe in myself, Naruto. You taught me that. You bring out the best of me when you're around. I can only talk to you so openly because you accept me for who I really am. And I wanted to thank you for that.''
Naruto was still evidently embarrassed. He scrunched his face and laughed off the compliment. ''You're welcome…I guess I can't call you teme anymore.''
''I won't use dobe.''
''You promise?''
As if to humor Naruto, Sasuke held out his pinky. ''Promise.'' They locked fingers to seal their agreement.
''I must admit it, Sasuke, I am pretty impressed by how well you can communicate your feelings. I get to see another side of you, you're opening up to me... I sometimes find it difficult to be clear when I express myself, because there are no words for what I'm experiencing. I need a dozen of them just to describe how I feel, then imagine mixing them all together in a blender somehow… but then there is no longer any real way to decipher the mess. I know…I know that I like you and I understand how you came to like me. I find that we have similar views on our notion of what we want our partner to be…and yet, at the same time, the line between liking someone when you hang out, to liking someone enough to be physically attracted to them…that area is gray to me, there is no way for me to describe it.''
Naruto hoped that the Uchiha would understand his complicated sentences and so he nervously waited for a reply. It took Sasuke a moment of silent contemplation and the blonde fretfully fidgeted with the handle of his kendo stick. He could not bear to look across to his rival during that painfully long minute.
''That was a mouthful. I feel like I should tell you that when I'm with you, I know that I have to be straightforward and direct for your sake but you also let me be silent and pensive as well. I like just talking to you about anything, like when we chat about a game from the past, highlight our favorite parts, then sit silently in the nostalgia of our memories, before we skip to something else entirely. To me, that shows how effortlessly our personalities blend together, when we can accommodate each other without even truly noticing it ourselves. It makes me happier than when I am with anyone else. You're worth making the effort for and I do it every day now for you…'' Sasuke also blushed shyly, albeit briefly, as he spoke the last string of his sentence.
The Uzumaki was relieved that Sasuke understood and even offered insight into his own inner happiness.
''I had never thought of that before, really. But it makes sense. I always try to impress everyone, or make them happy, but with you, it took forever for you to even look at me like I had become your equal. I couldn't even get you to laugh at my lame jokes or get you in trouble. I realize that I always wanted your attention because I felt that you were special, like me, and that we would recognize this in each other. Lame, huh, because I never said those things, instead I said teme a lot and I got mad at you instead of just saying how cool I thought you were.'' Naruto gave a cheeky grin as his excuse for calling up the nickname so soon.
''I said dobe just as much. I only now see that I was redirecting my frustrations onto you, because you were trying so hard to seek everyone's attention, all the time. I was annoyed that you needed their approval, when to me, it was always meaningless.'' Sasuke said.
''It's not their approval I wanted. I wanted respect. I figured that I could only earn it from you, after you were set as the standard of glory amongst our peers. You're still one of the first people to ever truly respect me for who I am.''
''I do see you as my equal Naruto.''
''You're my rival too Sasuke.''
They smiled jokingly at each other. It was incredibly liberating to laugh away their tensions and anxieties.
''Can we get in a good spar?'' Sasuke prompted, and they left the conversation there for now.
That morning, Naruto had begged Kakashi to spare them from rigorous training, so that they may discuss several things privately. He promised to train over the weekend but Kakashi scolded him nonetheless for his request. He had canceled every practice that week so that the boys could talk. This annoyed him since the tournament was approaching and he knew that hormones would interfere with their focuses.
''You both have priorities that you are neglecting.''
Naruto's counter worked like a charm though, ''you get to sleep in.''
Before he even left his uncle's room, Kakashi was snoring loudly again. He disagreed with the antagonizing comment he received, for he knew that they were both tremendously serious about their training routines and would catch up on their own. Even if Kakashi was not present to critique their skills, they were determined enough to finish their weekly regiment without his supervision or guidance and still manage to communicate their feelings.
Once the hundreds of questions dried up in the river of his mind, Naruto found focusing again easy. He slipped into the zone, where he reacted on instinct, instead of analysis. Sasuke, his natural opposite, relied on his mind to systematically decipher his and his opponent's next move; therefore, he was always able to push out his concerns and find his rhythm just as quickly, by analyzing Naruto's form. It became second nature to them both and they barely noticed it anymore.
The transition from their fighting stance to their casual demeanors came almost as effortlessly. It began with Naruto's laughter and smile, as it almost always did. The blonde was clearly exhausted and his arms simply let out, as he was trying to defend the oncoming blow with his kendo stick. The force of Sasuke's hit could not be successfully blocked and absorbed, and so the momentum of the attack caused the Uchiha to stumble into his opponent. They both ended up on the gym mats.
''Sorry, my arms gave out and I lost balance.'' Naruto explained to his best friend, who was suddenly above him, but on his knees.
It was terribly awkward for both of them; Naruto had toppled over and landed hard on his backside. Sasuke staggered forward as well, when his swing was not met with resistance, and he ended up falling forward onto his knees, at either side of Naruto's stomach, in order to avoid landing on him. This same incident had happened several times before but now it was no longer just funny and brushed off but practically intimate. Everything they did together took on another layer of meaning, Naruto realized and his cheeks darkened.
''No worries.'' Sasuke replied and Naruto swore he heard a tremor in the Uchiha's voice. Was he nervous? Or shy from what happened? Embarrassed even?
Sasuke rose to his feet abruptly, after his comment but still offered the blonde his hand. Naruto accepted and once again, they stood eye to eye. The connection did not linger but Naruto could feel Sasuke's warm digits caress his palm, ever so slightly. He could not help but notice now and yet probably never did before. Although he secretly appreciated the tenderness that his best friend could display, he felt guilty inside for enjoying it so much. Only a few days ago, were his thoughts consumed with Hinata and Sakura and now, as every day passed, he watched his connection with Sasuke grow.
That meant that Sasuke deserved the truth. Naruto had agonized over whether or not he should discuss with Sasuke what he said to Sakura. The thought only struck him hard that same morning, as he realized that a part of him was eager to see Sasuke again and discuss what was on his mind. Clarity brought him peace and unbeknownst to him, even closer to his best friend. He also understood that it was unfair to leave Sasuke in the dark about these matters and that with honesty, they could strengthen their bond.
''Hey, Sasuke…'' Naruto said, as he began to shuffle in place. ''There's still one thing I want to talk to you about…but it's kinda hard for me to say.''
The Uchiha blinked a few times, surprised by the sudden interjection, as he was desperately trying not to blush an obvious crimson color, from being stared at so intensely. Instead of sounding unsure and hesitant, he simply nodded, not able to trust his own mouth and the words that could possibly escape from it.
''Well, I've noticed that I often feel guilty, when I feel like there's a connection or a spark between us. I've been thinking about this a lot…and I have to confess that before I agreed to go on our date and see if our sentiments could possibly align…'' He sighed heavily, which caused Sasuke to stop breathing in anticipation. ''…I went and seen Sakura and told her that I still had feelings for her.''
The entire room went silent and Naruto barely heard him ask it but Sasuke responded with, ''Can I ask why?''
They were very aware of each other's discomfort with this situation. Sakura was no longer a part of Sasuke's life and yet it seemed like she was ever present in Naruto's.
''I told her that my feelings for her never really died, after the first time I confessed to her. I also explained to her that I wasn't interested in Hinata and felt like a douchebag for leading her on, thinking that my flirting with her would make Sakura jealous instead of supportive. I hoped that she would realize that I was great boyfriend material and she would regret passing me over. But Sakura turned me down again. She really does not love me. She is no longer interested in dating. What I really wanted to tell you, Sasuke, was that I realized that by talking to her, I could let my feelings go instead of hanging onto something that was never there in the first place. Letting her go felt like I was tying up all my lose ends and that by liberating myself from my old emotions, I could let new ones blossom…I wanted to make sure I was giving you the chance you deserved.''
It was incredibly difficult not to drown in sudden self-doubt and unsteady nerves but as Naruto tried to lock eyes with Sasuke, the Uchiha turned away. His heart in that instant began beating erratically, to the point of panic. All he wanted to do was reassure Sasuke and yet he now felt as if he suddenly screwed everything up. The silence was smothering him and so he began talking anew, if only to dispel the void around them.
''Please Sasuke…I'm not trying to hurt you. I know you probably see my actions very differently from what I meant them to be… I just had to be certain that I could let myself actually be open to someone new, after all these things happened.''
''Thank you for your explanation. I'm not going to lie to you, it hurts hearing this because I have feelings for you but I understand why you did it. I appreciate your honesty and with it, I can't misconstrue your actions as an attack. You don't have to justify why you did it, I just want to ask you one thing. Would you have told her about us if she had said yes to you?''
Although Naruto was relieved that Sasuke did not just walk away from him, he also realized that he had no idea what Sasuke's reaction could have been. The question was easy for him to answer. Even as the Uchiha spoke, he knew what it would be and nodded his head vigorously.
''Without a doubt. I would never lie to either of you. You're my best friends. I would have told her that I was interested in you, and I would have even told her about that kiss. I would have also explained to her that I still had feelings for her after she initially rejected me and about how I wanted Hinata to make her jealous. I could never hurt either of you deliberately. I thought I was being fair, by giving her a last chance…if I could even call it that…but I was only selfishly catering to my own heart, right?''
Naruto's eyes fell downcast and his shoulders slumped forward; he was incredibly disappointed with himself, as he finished his answer. He felt foolish and naïve for being so confused by his unbalanced emotions.
Sasuke knew it was selfish of him but he reached over and took Naruto's hand, if only to hold it, as he squeezed it reassuringly.
''By talking to me and being honest, we will be able to work through issues like these. I know that you are not a selfish person, Naruto. You're allowed to have your own interests. If you've really still had feelings for her, this whole time, and you had no idea that I had feelings for you…then how could you have known. You were following your heart, just like I am mine.''
In that moment, all Naruto could think of was kissing Sasuke again and what that would mean by doing so. He was so incredibly kissable, especially after speaking such powerfully confident words. There was no other way to describe the stir of emotions within him but he knew that that was exactly how it felt. He wanted to kiss him. The feeling was there. He recognized it. It was like one of those scenes from a movie, when the chemistry between two people is tangible and one person reaches over and draws the other into a locking of lips. He could have done that right then, he realized. It was entirely possible. The thought made him blush.
Instead, Naruto murmured very quietly, ''thank you.''
''Thank you for opening up to me about it.'' Sasuke echoed the sentiment.
Naruto was smiling openly again, he could not help himself. He also realized that by doing so, Sasuke always began to grin back at him.
''We should go change.''
Sasuke still held Naruto's hand, so he led him along to the locker room. It thrilled him that Naruto did not let go and followed, a step behind.
''So are we still going to have lunch together? I brought all the leftovers to eat but it's way too much.''
''Sure. I brought everything back as well, except for Itachi's dango.''
''You know, we have enough food for like twelve people. We had lots of stuff.'' Naruto commented, recalling the items that he wanted to sample again the most.
''Why don't we ask our friends to join. Just so long as you don't keep smiling at me all the time.'' Sasuke said and finished with an unexpected jest. Naruto never noticed now that he was constantly beaming. It was hard for Sasuke to resist reminding him, because he knew that he was the cause of it.
That radiant happiness made Sasuke want to kiss him all the more.
Naruto rolled his eyes and scoffed, ''Yes mister charmer. That's a good idea. Let's see if you can resist flirting with me in public.''
''It's going to be so hard.'' Sasuke deadpanned and his reply was met with joyful laughter.
Their hands finally disconnected as they parted for their lockers. Naruto always used the left side of the room and Sasuke was always on the right wall, closer to the sinks. It was a habit they shared, to reuse the same numbered cabinets. Naruto's was 1010 and Sasuke's 0723. Only after three months of training each week did they noticed that the digits represented their birthdays.
''I thought you just wanted to be far away from me.'' Naruto had laughed about this immensely.
They went about their routine and Sasuke was waiting for Naruto at the exit, leaning against the door. Those dark eyes had yet to rise from the screen on his phone, so he did not notice the innocent blue orbs gazing curiously at him. Naruto realized that this would be the last time that they would speak for a few days and it suddenly made him nervous, without really knowing why. He hated that his feelings were torn because he also wished that this departure would not be so incredibly awkward and that they could act normally again, like when they played videogames together. After everything that occurred all week, Naruto just wanted a few more days to mull things over.
''Hey Sasuke, so I know that we weren't going to see each other for a few days, at least…not without our friends, and well…''
Sasuke offered an answer instead, as Naruto fumbled for the right words. ''You don't want to rush things…I know, Naruto. It's fine. We'll hang out with our friends later and tomorrow we'll only see each other in class.''
''It's just been a crazy week and I don't want you to think that I'm ignoring or avoiding you. I have my project tonight with Shino, and then tomorrow night my grandfather is arriving so I'll be with him all weekend training. I just want time to think stuff over and get my head together. And with the tournament coming up soon…''
For someone who rarely felt that nervous, or had major self-doubts, Naruto spent his entire week racked with confusion and anxiety. His emotions were like a rollercoaster, ranging anywhere from shy and embarrassed, to confident, and to nervous once again, almost daily now and especially around Sasuke. He just needed a break or something to distract him, like Jiraiya and their intense training routines. It was not as if he were procrastinating his decision but since it would affect the rest of his life, he wanted to sleep soundly on it and consider all of the implications more thoroughly.
''I get it. I don't want to rush you either.''
Naruto smiled in relief and the awkward moment was washed away from their tense nerves with such a simple gesture. Sasuke had tried to remain calm, even though his heart was beating rapidly in his chest, because he had also realized that this departure would be uncomfortable and uneasy for both of them. However, Sasuke was patient and refused to overly worry; he was not going to let those thoughts consume him all weekend.
''Good. I'm glad talking to you is so easy.'' Naruto said, almost as if a compliment, before transitioning into safer waters; he spoke of their their lunch gathering, later that afternoon and the small details. ''I'm going to text everyone and tell them of our idea. I hope you don't mind if I take all the credit.'' He laughed out loud.
They agreed on who to text and where to rendezvous and with a casual wave back at Sasuke and a playful grin, Naruto headed to his locker for his books. The first bell would ring any minute. Sasuke was only slightly disappointed that Naruto did not hug him that morning and so he settled for the smirk and indulged himself for a minute by staring at the blonde's back side, as he walked away.
The bell sounded for lunch and the full classrooms emptied out into the hallways of the immense school. No sooner did Naruto exit his class, Kiba caught up and joined him on the walk to their lockers.
''So you're offering everyone lunch today?'' The brunette immediately inquired.
Kiba, amongst a few others, had received the same text message from Naruto earlier that morning. He had not seen the blonde during their first morning break to confirm the invite; Naruto had to stay after class to discuss certain matters with their teacher.
''That's the idea. I got so much food yesterday and there's no way I can eat it all. We have enough for a banquet.''
''We?'' Kiba could not help but ask.
''Oh yea,'' Naruto opened his locker and began handing Kiba various boxes and bags from inside, ''Sasuke has the rest.''
It became much easier for Naruto to focus on his school lessons now that his head was not clouded and overwhelmed by his erratic emotions. His thoughts were much clearer so far and he only felt slightly nervous about hanging out with his best friend in a crowd of people and that was only because he had admitted to himself that he was sort of physically attracted to Sasuke. But that was it. At least, that specific thought no longer bothered him. He was still determined not to rush things though; they had agreed to spend time apart, which relieved him.
''Sasuke, huh? I wasn't expecting that.''
''I'll explain when we get there, I don't feel like repeating myself a dozen times.''
The two of them headed outside, where they met up with Shikamaru and Choji, who were already waiting for them near the trees, in the afternoon shade.
''So what's for lunch, Naruto?'' Choji asked curiously, as he eyed the white boxes that the blonde and Kiba were holding. He was grinning from ear to ear already.
''Man, everyone is so curious. I'm glad we had this idea. You guys will love it. There's even more on the way.''
Naruto swatted Choji's hands away when he attempted to open one of the bags that contained the desserts. Any further efforts at sneaking a peak were forgotten though when Lee came sprinting towards them, out of breath. Shino arrived a minute later; he had refused to compete in Lee's running challenge. He was followed closely by Suigetsu and Sasuke, who were also carrying lots of boxes.
Sasuke had enlisted Suigetsu to assist him and the entire time, his friend kept complaining about having to spend his lunch hour with Naruto and the other guys from their classes. They were lame, in his opinion but then again, Suigetsu followed nonetheless. He was insanely curious as to why and how Sasuke and Naruto procured themselves a banquet meal to share with so many.
''Hey guys, thanks for coming.'' Naruto resisted the urge at first to make eye contact with Sasuke but told himself to act naturally and he was able to meet the Uchiha's gaze indifferently before continuing his speech. ''So Sasuke and I were at the Matsuri festival in Yokohama yesterday and since his parents are rich, we got to bring back samples from every food vendor there. They were really generous too. We just kept asking for more and they made us more.''
The statement of simple facts that Naruto pronounced had been rehearsed over and over in his mind, before lunch time had finally arrived. He announced that they hung out together but nothing more and did not leave anything to the imagination. There were no insinuations. Still, he was expecting Kiba to ask a prodding question, especially after the whole Hinata incident. ''Why were you guys at Yokohama?''
Sasuke had also mentally prepared various things to say, in order to steady his nerves. He had no idea why his first statement felt hard to say though, even despite his rehearsing, ''My parents were supposed to go and had to cancel, so I asked Naruto to come an meet girls with me.''
Kiba's gaze shifted to Naruto and he seemed cross with the blonde. His glare was instense.
Naruto knew exactly why; Sasuke's answer made it seem like Naruto was over Hinata instantly and onto his next new dalliance, as if he had not just hurt their friend. It also did not help that Kiba liked Hinata, as much as he himself liked Sakura, when her eyes were on Sasuke. He tried to ignore his angry friend, as he added, ''we were recognized by these really cute twins but it got awkward because their father was there with them.''
That made Chouji and Lee laugh. ''Super awkward.''
''I know right,'' Naruto joined them in laughter.
Sasuke could not help but think to himself, as if that just happened; he wanted to chuckle so much but that would make him appear strange and so he bit back the chortles and grinned cockily, as if to agree with the blonde's statement. Those twins…
''So Naruto was your wingman?'' Suigetsu was almost horrified, as he asked and appeared insulted. ''Seriously, you could do so much better for a wingman. Like me.'' He grinned wickedly; anything free always pleased Suigetsu. Girls were a bonus. ''Did you at least get their numbers?'' He said to Sasuke, but Naruto answered for them both.
He feigned a sad face and sniffed, ''nope.''
''Better luck next time.'' Lee commented and the boys all chuckled.
''So what are we eating?'' Choji said again, more interested in the food than their talk of the opposite sex.
Naruto hushed him with a box, ''here, open it. Have fun.''
Everyone took something and commented on what they believed was inside. There was a wide variety. Once everything was revealed, they all took plates and called dibs on what they wanted to try first. Kiba and Chouji fought over the last meat skewer, until Shikamaru snapped it in half and gave them each a piece, ''so troublesome.'' He muttered.
They all partook in the small talk; Naruto revealed that he had detention next week for missing the deadline for his report in Economics. That explained his absence during the first break that morning. The blonde sighed with self-pity. Another lunch lost.
Shikamaru brought up video games and told Sasuke of his newest purchase, which he was especially pleased with, the beta version of Fall Out 4.
''How did you even get that?'' Sasuke could not help but inquire. That instantly peaked his curiosity.
''I know someone, who knows someone.'' Shikamaru replied casually, which meant that he knew of a game tester willing to sell his copy online. Sasuke knew this already; Shikamaru always invited him to play new unreleased games with him. But this one was rare. They were both quite skilled at first person shooter gameplay and they were both meticulous at exploring every possible nook and cranny of a game. Especially betas.
''You free Wednesday night to play, since there's no school next Thursday?''
''I am so incredibly jealous right now,'' Naruto blurted out, ''I want to play too.''
''I want in too, Shikamaru, after I watched the trailer and saw the dog sidekick, I knew I had to buy it.'' Kiba stated, as if to reinforce why he should be invited as well.
Shikamaru sighed, ''guys night then?''
Naruto and Kiba high fived each other in excitement and Sasuke finally accepted the invitation. It meant less individual play time but Naruto would be there as well and so far that was still a very good thing. More social time with their friends. Sasuke was not worried; even Naruto could not distract him from a great video game.
Lee declined, as he disliked most video games, unless sport themed. Shino and Chouji said no as well for other reasons, family and prior commitments.
Both Naruto and Sasuke had worried too much before lunch; it became easier as the time passed to pretend that there was nothing at all secretive between them. The blonde did sneak the occasional glance at Sasuke for a few seconds and he knew that the Uchiha was doing the same. There were enough people to keep the conversation buzzing with random topics and when the dessert boxes were opened, everyone indulged. Sasuke took the hand crafted chocolates and let them melt on his tongue. Naruto had cheesecake, drizzled with caramel sauce and lamented how he only got to have one piece. The desserts were even better than the meal and yet they still had a box of assorted pieces left.
''I know,'' Lee said, ''we should invite Sakura, Ino, and Ten Ten over. They're over there, I can see them walking.'' The problem with Lee was that when an idea struck him, instead of waiting for anyone's opinion, he just acted immediately. He was already jogging towards them by the end of his sentence. And of course, they followed him back.
''Ouh, these look good.'' Ino smiled and stole a baked good, a cookie sprinkled with powdered sugar.
The girls were happy to steal a snack. Lee was always kind to others and now, there was nothing left of the banquet. It had all been consumed.
''So where's Hinata?'' Kiba could not help but notice that their fourth member was absent even though he had seen her in class earlier that day.
''Oh, she doesn't have lunch here anymore. Violin practice, apparently.''
Ten Ten's comment hit Naruto square in the face and it showed. It made him uneasy, especially since Kiba was glaring smugly at him again.
Sasuke grit his teeth; he felt uneasy seeing Naruto so ashamed of himself. He could tell that his best friend felt guilty, as if it was somehow his own fault. This bothered him immeasurably.
''Well thank you Naruto and Sasuke for the treats. Lee said you guys were the ones that brought everything.'' Sakura said and her voice sliced right through the awkward tension that had developed around the situation. She could feel Kiba's animosity for Naruto and it also bothered her because she knew the real truth behind the way things unfolded. If only she could tell Kiba but it was not worth it in the end. Naruto was allowed to have secrets and Kiba was clearly jealous.
''These two studs were out trying to pick up ladies and failed, so instead, we all get food.'' Suigetsu laughed, without even realizing how offensive he came off, telling his friend's ex-girlfriend of his attempts to move on from the past. He was obviously dense.
Sakura's civil nature seemed to fade away after Suigetsu's remark and she narrowed her eyes dangerously at him. It lasted only a moment though, then her fury disappeared suddenly and she was smiling again.
''I'm glad you guys are acting like real best friends.'' She said to Sasuke and Naruto and Ino could see her friend's distress, so she took initiative and excused them from further conversation, ''bye guys!'' she waved back at them as Sakura stomped away.
''You're an idiot Suigetsu.'' Shikamaru commented, once the girls had faded from their views.
They all agreed with a unanimous nod.
Sakura was incredibly pissed off at Suigetsu for his offhanded and rude attitude but she chose to focus on the positive instead. It made her happy as well to hear that Naruto and Sasuke were finally getting along. She could ignore Suigetsu and let the moment pass. Ino and Ten Ten helped cheer her up by distracting her but her thoughts lingered back to her best friends. She had always encouraged Sasuke to be more open to Naruto, during their entire relationship but had never seen them succeed in hanging out together, without her being around to mediate. Now, it was as if their friendship had evolved past the simple layers of bickering and rivalry and into something profound. They were there for each other, almost like brothers. Even without Sasuke at her side, she still considered him a valued friend. But it was still hard to be around him sometimes. Like today. So, she continued to hope that time would heal her fully and that she too would move on happily to someone else.
-=TBC=-
Also, thank you Ana93 for your review; I appreciate the feedback.